ASSEMBLY, No. 5665

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 8, 2025

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  BRIAN E. RUMPF

District 9 (Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Creates penalty for failure to cooperate with child abuse investigations; upgrades penalties for failure to report child abuse.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Actconcerning child abuse investigations and amending P.L.1971, c.437.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1. Section 7 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.14) is amended to read as follows:

     7. a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section any person knowingly violating the provisions of [this act] P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.8 et seq.) including the failure to report an act of child abuse [having] and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been committed, is guilty of a [disorderly person] crime of the fourth degree.

     b.    Any person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the [fourth]third degree.

     c.     Any person who knowingly fails to cooperate with an investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or any other entity in the Department of Children and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.40, s.2)

 

     2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill creates a penalty for failing to cooperate with a child abuse or neglect investigation and upgrades the penalties for failure to report child abuse and failure to report sexual abuse.

     Under current law, any person who violates the provisions of N.J.S.A.9:6-8.8 et seq., which includes the failure to report an act of child abuse and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been committed, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense.  This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the fourth degree.  A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by incarceration for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

     Under current law, any person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.  This bill upgrades the penalty to a crime of the third degree.  A crime of the third degree is punishable by incarceration for a term of between three and five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.

     Finally, this bill amends current law to provide that any person who knowingly fails to cooperate with an investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or any other entity in the Department of Children and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.